Monday, August 25, 2014

The LSGTPA tractor pulling teams returned to scenic Blue Ridge, Texas, for the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull and some summer time tractor pulling. Blue Ridge was settled on property originally owned by Matthiss Mowry, who received the land grant from the Republic of Texas, for his services during the Texas War of Independence. Originally named Pull'n Tug, the blackland prairie town name was changed to Blue Ridge, around 1860, for its blue flowering grass. Once home to the 16th Texas Cavalry, and now home to the Blue Ridge Tigers, the town once called Pull'n Tug makes for exciting tractor pulling and tugging action.

Youth Class tractors opened the show, with Mason Hovind taking the win aboard his 'Yes Deere' entry. This was just the second pull on a fresh engine for the 'Yes Deere', following a mid-season engine rebuild. Kody Langham scored a runner up finish aboard his Bonham Service Center sponsored tractor, while Lane Duncan posted a third place finish aboard his 'Texas T-Rex' tractor. Jared Stephan pulled to a fourth place finish, driving the 'Rusteze' tractor, and returned to pilot the 'Iron Head' tractor to a top five finish.

Stock Class tractors were paced by Aidan Hovind, aboard the 'Yes Deere' tractor, with Aidan Hovind also piloting the 'Rusteze' machine to a runner-up finish. Steve McCarley finished third, with Claude Lewis just inches behind in the fourth place spot. Kolby Langham pulled to a top five finish, while Claude Lewis placed sixth aboard the 'Skeeter' tractor. In Stock Diesel, Ken Langham Jr. pulled to victory, with Steve Hovind pulling to the runnerup. In Big Stock, Alex Jesko piloted the 'Overtime' tractor to the win, with Shawn Aufdenkamp pulling to the runnerup. Jerry Toland drove the 'Triple Deuce' machine to a third place finish, with Kolby Langham and 'Texas Thunder' pulling to fourth.

The Stock Altered tractors were led by Ken Langham Sr. taking the top spot, with Alex Jesko pulling to the second place position aboard the 'Outlaw' tractor. John Aufdenkamp finished in the third position, with Shawn Aufdenkamp pulling to fourth. The Motorcycle Class category was won by Steve Pierce, aboard his 'Buzzards Roost' machine, with Paul Smith taking the runnerup position aboard his 'Texan' tractor. Paul Smith returned to the track with the 'Texan' tractor, to take the Outlaw Class title.

The Mini Rod tractors put on a great show, with Jerry Toland taking the win aboard his 'Shinin Time' tractor. Sarah Moody turned in a runnerup performance, aboard her '99% Moody' turbocharged diesel entry. Colby Crowe piloted his 'Weekend Warrior' tractor to a third place finish on the podium. David Houchen pulled to a fourth place finish, on an engine wounding run aboard his 'Back In The Day' tractor.

The Super Rod tractors closed the show, with Randall Moody using some home field advantage to put the 'Ridge Runner' in the winners circle. Ken Langham Sr. finished in the runnerup spot, with Donny Mayo placing his 'Blackfoot Squaw' machine on the podium in third. John Kiemele drove his 'Dodge This' machine, to the fourth place finish, in a very tough field of Super Rod Class tractors.

The Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull was presented by area sponsors, including Cattleman's Cafe, Brockman Farms, Blue Ridge Country Store, Bo Elders Hay, Chilson Natural Hoof Care, Fortner & Son Backhoe, and the great folks at Ag Power of McKinney. Local favorite Sarah Moody, turned in a great performance as event organizer! Blue Ridge Cemetery is the resting place for Billy Jake Halter, a long time tractor puller for whom the event is named in honor of.

The LSGTPA pulling teams will prepare for a five in a row, back to back series of pulls, to finish the 2014 season. Visit the LSGTPA website, for event schedule and details.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

De Leon, Texas was established in 1881, as the Texas Central
Railroad pulled into the region. The
town and surrounding farming communities are rich with agricultural
history. In 1914, the area settlers
organized a Peach and Melon Festival, as a local celebration for the farming
community. This event grew to be a
regional happening, and in 1970, tractor pulling became a featured event during
the festivities. By 2007, De Leon had constructed a dedicated tractor
pulling arena, which featured dual pulling tracks. During the 2014, 100th Annual Peach and Melon
Festival event, a third track was added for the LSGTPA tractor pulling teams.

Opening ceremonies featured an outstanding National Anthem
presentation, performed by the duet of Payton and Paige Williams. Payton Williams was crowned the 100th Annual
DeLeon Peach and Melon Festival Queen, prior to the start of the event, and
performed sporting her newly acquired crown and sash!

The LSGTPA Youth Class tractors opened the show, with Kody
Langham taking the victory. Jared
Stephan pulled double duty on two tractors, placing his entries in the second
and third positions. Lane Duncan, aboard
his 'Texas T-Rex' entry, scored a fourth place finish. Megan Baird pulled to a top five finish,
while Mason Hovind rounded out the field aboard his 'Yes Deere' entry.

Stock Class tractors were paced by Aidan Hovind, with Claude
Lewis scoring a second and third place finish aboard his two entries. Claude scored the runnerup aboard his
'Skeeter' tractor, which was previously campaigned by Skeet Degner, a long time
tractor puller who had passed away in March. Kolby Langham pulled to a fourth place finish,
while Aidan Hovind was limited by breakage on the 'Yes Deere' tractor. The Stock Diesel title left with Ken Langham,
Jr, while Steve Hovind pulled to the runnerup position on a run which ended in transmission damage. In Big Stock, John Aufdenkamp used a Full
Pull to take the win, over the runnerup tractor of Alton Degner. Cameron Paschall scored a third place finish
aboard 'High Cotton' and Alex Jesko used a second round Full Pull to finish
fourth aboard his 'Overtime' tractor.
Kolby Langham also recorded a second round Full Pull aboard 'Texas
Thunder', to finish inches ahead of Jerry Toland and his 'Triple Deuce'
tractor. Seth Markey took his tractor
out of bounds on a wild ride, which resulted in a DQ and a seventh place finish
aboard the 'High Cotton' tractor.

Stock Altered resulted in two great pulls by Alex Jesko aboard
the 'Outlaw', for the win. John
Aufdenkamp pulled to the runnerup spot, with Michael Mayberry and 'Pulling for
Peanuts' scoring third. Ken Langham
scored a FullPull, but a first round DQ on a wild ride out of bounds, limited
his entry to a fourth place finish. The
Motorcycle Class title was taken by Paul Smith, aboard the 'Texan' tractor,
while Steve Pierce scored the runnerup aboard his 'Buzzards Roost' machine. In Outlaw, Paul Smith and his 'Texan' tractor
again scored the victory, with the
'Three of a Kind' tractor of John Aufdenkamp placing second, while incurring some drivetrain damages.

Paul Smith works his way to a win aboard his 'Texan' machine at DeLeon.

Ken Langham holds on during a wild ride at the Deleon LSGTPA tractor pull.

The Mini Rod tractors put on a great show, with Jerry Toland
taking the win aboard 'Shinin Time'.
David Houchen placed his 'Back in the Day' tractor in the runnerup
position, with Sarah Moody placing third aboard her '99% Moody' turbo diesel
tractor. Colby Crowe and the 'Weekend
Warrior' machine pulled to a fourth place finish. The wild Super Rod tractors closed the
show, with Thomas Kimmons taking the win aboard his newly acquired 'Fired Up'
tractor. Ken Langham scored the
runnerup, with Donny Mayo and his 'Blackfoot Squaw' tractor placing third. Randall Moody drove the 'Ridge Runner' to
fourth place, with John Kiemele and the 'Dodge This' taking home a top five
finish in a close field of Super Rods.

Thomas Kimmons scores a victory during his debut of 'Fired Up' at DeLeon.